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Brock ends Comanche's season with 34-7 win in region title game

Brock defensive players Brett White (left) and Tanner Patino both give Comanche wide receiver Trevor Higginbotham a pat after helping him up from the field Friday at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. Higginbotham had fallen hard after running for a long pass, only to have the ball slip past his hands. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal, 34-7.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News)Buy Photo

Three different Brock players ran for touchdowns as the Eagles beat Comanche 34-7 in the Region I-3A Division I championship game Friday at Shotwell Stadium.

Brock, playing the region final for the fourth consecutive year, outscored the Indians 21-0 in the second half to advance to the state semifinals for the first time since winning the state title in 2015.

Comanche, making its deepest run in the playoff since 1953, ends its season at 12-2.

Brock scored on its first two possessions and held on to lead 13-7 at halftime.

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Comanche High School wide receiver Jayton McGinnis tumbles on the turf while Brock defensive back Brett White tries to dive over McGinnis during Friday's game Dec. 8, 2017. McGinnis had been reaching for a pass that overshot his arms, causing him to stumble. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Comanche running back Colton Roberts loses the ball after it was knocked from his arm by Brock linebacker Dawson Littlepage during Friday's game Dec. 8, 2017. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Comanche High School wide receiver Trevor Higginbotham catches a long pass on the 30 yard line during Friday's game against Brock Dec. 8, 2017. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Comanche running back Kade Mercer rolls on the ground after losing his footing, causing Brock linebacker Zakk Young to dive over him during Friday's game against Brock Dec. 8, 2017. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Comanche High School running back Jeremy Bostick carries the ball during Friday's game against Brock Dec. 8, 2017. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Brock defensive end Kaden Hendrix runs into the leg of Comanche High School kicker Nacho Rios during Friday's game Dec. 8, 2017, drawing a penalty that set up Comanche's only touchdown of the night. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Comanche wide receiver Trevor Higginbotham steadies the ball in his grasp after catching a long pass during Friday's game against Brock Dec. 8, 2017. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Comanche runningback Colton Roberts momentarily finds himself in a headlock as Brock linebacker Zakk Young brings him down during Friday's game Dec. 8, 2017. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

Brock defensive players Brett White (left) and Tanner Patino both give Comanche wide receiver Trevor Higginbotham a pat after helping him up from the field Friday Dec. 8, 2017. Higginbotham had fallen hard after running for a long pass, only to have the ball slip past his hands. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal championship game at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7. Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News

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The Eagles began their next drive at their own 49-yard line again, after a 14-yard punt by Comanche. Two plays later, Tanner Patino raced down the left sideline for a 56-yard TD run. The Eagles went for two and came up short on the run, but led 13-0 with 7:05 left in the opening quarter.

Comanche got right back in the game as Bronte Hermesmeyer threw a 7-yard TD pass to Trevor Higginbotham 3:58 before halftime on a third-and-goal play.

The TD pass capped a 13-play, 90-yard drive. The Indians had missed a 28-yard field goal by Nacho Rios on the drive, but the Eagles were called for roughing the kicker – giving Comanche a first down at the 6.

Higginbotham also had a 38-yard catch, down to the Brock 34, on a third-and-11 play from the 28 to spark the drive.

The Indians got down to the Eagles 28 with 4 seconds to play in the half, thanks to a 36-yard catch by Higginbotham, who beat two defenders to come down with the ball on a third-and-10 play.

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Comanche running back Colton Roberts loses the ball after it was knocked from his arm by Brock linebacker Dawson Littlepage during Friday's game. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal at Shotwell Stadium, 34-7.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News)

But the half ended with Jayton McGinnis making a catch and being tackled at the 4.

The game turned when Comanche fumbled the ball at the Brock 31 on the opening drive of the second half. Brock needed 12 plays to get a 4-yard TD run by Dawson Littlejohn with 9 seconds left in the quarter.

Comanche then turned the ball over downs at its own 42 on its ensuing drive, and Littlejohn ran 42 yards on the next play from scrimmage to break the game open.

Turning point: Trailing 13-7 at halftime, Comanche took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove from its own 16 into Brock territory. On first-and-10 from the Brock 39, Colton Roberts fumbled after an 8-yard gain. Brock recovered at its own 31. The Eagles cashed the turnover into a TD as Dawson Littlejohn ran 4 yards for the score on a third-and-2 play for a 20-7 lead with 9 seconds left in the third quarter. The 12-play, 69-yard drive was Brock’s longest of the night.

Players of the game: Tanner Patino, running back, Brock – the senior ran for 114 yards on 15 carries, including a 56-yard TD run in the first quarter; Trevor Higginbotham, receiver, Comanche – the senior caught five passes for 74 yards. His 7-yarder TD catch made it a 13-7 game 3:58 before halftime.

Key stats: Brock rolled up 257 yards rushing and threw just two passes, both completions, including one for the game’s first score. Comanche QB Bronte Hermesmeyer completed 13 of 20 passes for 168 yards and a TD. He completed 10 consecutive passes at one point. The Indians also had 122 yards rushing, including a team-high 63 from Roberts on 15 carries.

Next up: Brock (12-2) advances to play Kemp (13-1) in the state semifinals. Kemp beat Grandview 13-3 on Friday in Midlothian..

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Comanche running back Kade Mercer takes the ball downfield during Friday's game against Brock at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. Brock won the 3A Division 1 quarterfinal, 34-7.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News)

Coach said: “We never could recover after that,” Comanche coach Stephen Hermesmeyer said about Littlepage’s TD after the turnover. “Credit them. They’re a great football team. They didn’t make any mistakes. We needed them to turn the ball over tonight, and they didn’t. Our season ended because we made a couple too many mistakes.”